Bellator FCBellator MMA (Bellator) is the 2nd largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in the USA and the largest tournament-based MMA organization in the world. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, the company was formed in 2008 by Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. Bellator’s events are primarily structured around tournaments. The tournament winner is declared the number one contender in their respective weight class, and is awarded a check for $100,000 and a shot at the reigning Bellator champion. Bellator uses the motto “The Toughest Tournament In Sports” Bellator FC now airs on Spike TV Thursday nights!

The exodus of ex-UFC fighters. Bellator can probably do well with this formula.

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The ridiculously chiseled physique of Cheick Kongo will join the glut of former UFC fighters finding their way inside the Bellator cage this year.

According to a press release from the promotion, the heavyweight, who went 11-6-1 during his near seven-year run inside the Octagon, will make his Bellator debut in September and will be featured in the Season 9 Heavyweight Tournament. That’s two months before both Tito Ortiz and Quinton Jackson will fight in Bellator’s first ever pay-per-view event.

Both Ortiz and Jackson joined the promotion earlier this summer after their long careers with the UFC came to an end. Welterweight Matt Riddle is the other ex-UFC fighter to sign a Bellator contract this year.

“After my contract was up in the UFC, I really wanted to take some time and reflect on everything,” Kongo said. “After talking to the people around me, especially someone like my longtime [sic] friend in Rampage, he told me how well Bellator has been treating him and what we can do with Bellator, and after getting to know Bjorn Rebney, it just seemed like the right fit for me.”

Kongo had been offered an extension to his UFC contract prior to his fateful meeting with Roy Nelson at UFC 159. However, he demurred, possibly hoping a win over Big Country would leave him in a better bargaining position. Instead, after being stopped in the first round for the second time in his last three fights, the Frenchman decided to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

“If you’re an MMA fan, you’re a Kongo fan,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “No matter who he fights he’s always going to bring the fight and put on a great show, and he’s one of the best guys you’ll have the pleasure of dealing with in MMA.”

Bellator’s Season 9 kicks off on Sep. 7 in Connecticut and runs through until Nov. 22. The heavyweight schedule is yet to be confirmed, but whoever makes it through to the final will face Russian champion Alexander Volkov for the title.

I'm all for a heavyweight tournament but is there really going to be one in season nine? If it isn't confirmed I'm not sure it's a good idea to get one together this soon. There are too many issues here.